DE102014107163A1 - Electrically operated household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrically operated household appliance (1), in particular a food processor, with a speech recognition device which is designed to compare speech signals of a user (13) with known control commands for operating the household appliance (1), and with an activation device for activating the speech recognition device , In order to achieve a comfortable activation and use of the speech recognition device and in particular to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, it is proposed that the activation device has an optical detection device, wherein the activation device is set up, the speech recognition device in response to information detected by the optical detection device activate. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a household appliance according to the invention.

Description

The invention relates to an electrically operated household appliance, in particular a food processor, with a speech recognition device which is designed to compare speech signals of a user with known control commands for operating the household appliance, and with an activation device for activating the speech recognition device.

Household appliances, especially kitchen appliances, of the aforementioned type are known in the art.

The publication DE 10 2010 060 650 A1 For example, discloses a household appliance, namely a food processor, the control commands in relation to the execution and processing of recipes via a data interface can be transmitted. In this case, the food processor can be in data connection with, for example, a mobile phone, which transmits data to the food processor. In this context, it is further provided to use a voice control of the mobile phone for detecting control commands of the user.

In the prior art, it is also known to activate speech recognition devices of mobile phones by pressing a button. By pressing a button starts a speech recognition software, by means of which the speech signals of the user can be detected.

A disadvantage of the aforementioned prior art is that the activation of the speech recognition device takes place exclusively via a key operation. This is particularly disadvantageous in situations in which the user, for example, dirty or sticky hands - for example, when cooking or baking - and thus can not take advantage of speech recognition until after pressing an activation key. However, this contradicts the actual benefit of speech recognition. Moreover, it is also disadvantageous that the use of speech recognition in addition to the household appliance, a second device for speech recognition, namely a mobile phone is required.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a household appliance with a more comfortable activation and use of the speech recognition device, in particular to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

To achieve the above object, the invention proposes an electrically operated household appliance according to the preamble of the main claim, in which the activation device has an optical detection device, and wherein the activation device is configured to activate the speech recognition device in dependence on information detected by the optical detection device.

The speech recognition device of the household appliance according to the invention can thus be activated by optically acquired information. A key operation is omitted. The detection device is designed and set up to acquire information in the area of the household appliance. If the acquired information contains a valid optical signal, speech recognition is activated. The speech recognition device of the household appliance can thus be activated completely without touching the household appliance or the activation device.

It is further proposed that the optical detection device comprises at least one optical sensor for detecting optical signals, which is arranged on the household appliance, that it is oriented substantially in the direction of a user. The sensor or sensors may be conventional camera chips, for example CCD chips or CMOS chips. Advantageously, the sensor detects an area in front of the household appliance in which a user usually resides when approaching the domestic appliance.

It is proposed that the optical detection device has an evaluation unit which is set up to compare signals which are detected in temporal succession by the optical sensor. In this case, the optical detection device, the optical information, for example, at predetermined time intervals, for example every tenth of a second, detect and forward to the evaluation. The evaluation unit compares the temporally successive information and can recognize, for example, an approach of the user to the household appliance due to changes or differences in the image data.

The optical signals advantageously have information about an orientation of the user's body, in particular a head position or pupil position of the user, relative to the household appliance.

As a result of this embodiment, in addition to a conventional detection of the presence of a user in the area of the household appliance, it is also possible, if necessary, to detect the direction, so that it can be recognized whether the user is turning to the household appliance, in particular looking at it. If the user looks at the household appliance directly, a communication request can be assumed. In addition, it can be assume that a detected person wants to use the household appliance.

The direction detection is advantageously carried out by means of a suitable software, for example by means of an eye model for the analysis of the information detected by the optical detection device.

According to the proposed direction detection, in particular a false triggering of a stored command can be ruled out in the detection range of the optical detection device only when a person, who does not necessarily have to be a user of the household appliance at the same time, is detected.

The user or potential user of the household appliance does not necessarily have to look specifically for the corresponding detection in the direction of the optical detection device, for example in a camera. Rather, a calculation algorithm is preferably stored, which also takes into account the viewing direction of at least one eye of the person outside the detection range of the optical detection device, as far as, preferably, in the resulting field of view of the user is the household appliance.

The direction detection can, for example, lead (initially) to a greeting of the user if the result is positive. This example, in optical form, further example, by means of a lettering in a display, or in an acoustic form in a preferred arrangement of a sound transducer in the form of a loudspeaker. Such a greeting can be done by voice, but also in addition or alternatively by acoustic signals, for example in the form of a tone sequence.

With the preferably installed in the household appliance, more preferably directed towards the usual position of the user relative to the household appliance optical detection device information is detected either continuously or at discrete time intervals. If a person is in a defined image section and preferably at a defined distance in front of the device (preferably 0.4 to 2 m, in particular about 1 m), the image is examined, for example an image of the face and / or at least one eye extracted and especially evaluated the line of sight. The recording is preferably carried out with a conventional VGA camera, in particular comprising a CCD sensor.

The direction evaluation of the eye in the recorded recording is achieved with a preferably integrated in the household appliance processor.

In a further embodiment, it can be provided that the household appliance with its functions can only be used by detecting a valid direction of the head or the pupil of a user who lingers in the detection area of the household appliance. Thus, for example, with recognition of a valid line of vision of the eye, in addition, if appropriate, in addition to a recognition of a face of an authorized user, and the manual operation of the household appliance, d. H. the operation via individual control elements, such as speed, temperature and time duration controller possible.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the direction detection with activation of the household appliance can be activated. With activation of the household appliance, for example, by pressing a main switch or plugging a power plug into the power outlet of the house-side power supply, the household appliance is preferably in a so-called stand-by mode in which the direction detection is activated at the same time.

Alternatively, the direction detection, in particular from a stand-by mode of the household appliance out only after a command input is activated. This command input is accessible in a preferred embodiment by the operation of an actuating element of the household appliance, such as a button or switch.

Furthermore, the direction detection can only be deactivated by switching off the household appliance, for example, according to actuation of the main switch in an off position or disconnect the mains side power supply.

The optical detection device can advantageously have a 3D sensor. The 3D sensor is preferably designed to receive spatial images. It is preferably a 3D camera. Alternatively, two mutually distant optical sensors may be provided, wherein the distance of the sensors usually corresponds to the distance of human eyes to each other. Such a stereoscopic recording and evaluation of the optical information, for example, the orientation of the body, the head or the pupil of a user can be determined.

The here and below described software for evaluating the recording or recordings is not necessarily provided in the household appliance. This can also be provided in a computer or handheld device, such as a mobile telephone, arranged outside the household appliance, this more preferably using, for example, a radio link. The evaluation can also be done in a remote computer ("cloud").

Furthermore, the user's acoustic signals can also be evaluated. For this purpose, the household appliance preferably has a sound transducer, in particular in the form of a microphone. The sound transducer can enable a recording of sound, thus also spoken commands or instructions, for example in the form of digital data.

The acoustic signal is preferably a sound signal of the user, more preferably the spoken word of the user, such as in the form of a voice command. A voice command may be typed, that is, for example, include one or more keywords predefined for a function or selection.

In a typical environment of the household appliance, which is characterized among other things by acoustic signals from radio or TV programs or by human conversation, it can lead to misinterpretation only in an acoustic signal evaluation. To prevent this, the acoustic signals are preferably evaluated as a function of the detected direction detection.

The proposed embodiment, a constant monitoring of acoustic signals by the household appliance is not necessary. In particular, typical speech commands such as "faster", "slower", "40 °", "stop" or "off" are separated by the linkage with the directional recognition, and preferably only with a detected valid direction of the body, the head or a pupil used by a user as actual control commands for the home appliance.

For example, according to the detection of a viewing direction of the eye of the user corresponding to the specifications, a situational activation of the acoustic control, in particular the voice control, takes place.

The household appliance preferably has a speech recognition software. Depending on a speech recognition, a work routine of the household appliance is feasible.

By means of a voice control, it is possible that in particular the manipulated variables, speed, duration and optionally temperature, in particular cooking functions, such as complex cooking processes or the selection of a recipe by acoustic signal, in particular language, can be selected. It is not necessary, however, in a preferred embodiment, but nevertheless possible to touch the household appliance, at least in the ready state while doing and to search appropriate keys or switches.

Also, preferably by means of the acoustic signal or speech recognition complete recipes from a preferably internal recipe database of the household appliance, such as a food processor, in particular selectable by voice, if a suitable, d. H. For example, the language command assignable recipe or a portion of a recipe is stored in a recipe database.

With a sound transducer in the form of an electronic microphone, which is preferably in a housing of the household appliance, more preferably in the usual work with the household appliance user facing portion of the housing, is arranged, the spoken word or another acoustic signal of the user in electrical Converted signals. These signals are preferably processed and analyzed by a digital signal processor (DSP). After continuously analyzing the received acoustic signals and comparing them to a predefined signal list, which is more preferably stored in a database, the digital signal processor returns the highest probability evaluation. A check is made as to which stored signal the received acoustic signal has the highest match.

In a further step, a microcontroller preferably analyzes the word or the acoustic signal present in text form, for example, and translates this into a machine command or directly into a recipe, behind which a sequence of machine commands is stored. Finally, the or the machine commands are passed to the control of the household appliance and executed by this.

Finally, with the invention - in addition to the household appliance described above - a method for operating a household appliance, in particular a food processor proposed, wherein speech signals of a user detected by a speech recognition device and compared with known control commands for operating the household appliance, wherein the speech recognition device in dependence is activated by an activation event, and wherein the speech recognition device is activated as a function of detected by means of a detection device optical signals in the surrounding area of the household appliance. In this case, the same features that were previously explained with respect to the household appliance, apply analogously to the inventive method.

Advantageously, the proposed method can have the following method steps:
Detection of at least one optical signal,
Comparing the detected signal with predefined reference signals, and activating the speech recognizer if a detected signal corresponds to a predefined reference signal.

With regard to the comparison of the detected signal with predefined reference signals, it is additionally proposed that, instead of just one signal, a plurality of signals are detected at time intervals or else continuously by means of the optical detection device. These optical signals can then be compared either respectively with reference signals, or alternatively with each other themselves. In the latter case, the earlier detected signals themselves serve as reference signals for a temporally thereafter detected signal.

Particularly preferred is a method embodiment in which an orientation of the body of a user, in particular a head position or pupil orientation of a user, is detected relative to the household appliance. The evaluation unit used for the direction detection compares the detected signals, which are images of the body, in particular of the head or the pupil of a user, with reference signals and activates the speech recognition device, provided that a detected signal corresponds to a reference signal, which is a turn of the user to the Home appliance displays.

The invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing shows only one possible embodiment of the invention. It shows:

1 in a perspective view of a household appliance in the operating position with a household appliance user facing.

Shown and described is a household appliance 1 , specifically a food processor with a mixing vessel receptacle 2 and a control panel 3 ,

Regarding the household appliance 1 it is preferably a household appliance as in the publications DE 10210442 A1 and or DE 10 2010 060 650 A1 described. The features of these known household appliances are hereby incorporated in full in the disclosure of the invention, also for the purpose of including features of these household appliances in claims of the present invention.

The household appliance 1 according to 1 is a mixing vessel 4 assignable by placing this in the mixing vessel receptacle 2 especially in the foot region of the mixing vessel 4 is preferably used positively.

In the mixing vessel 4 is assigned to the Rührgefäßboden an unillustrated agitator provided which via a in the household appliance 1 below the mixing vessel holder 2 arranged electric motor is operated. The agitator remains in the mixing vessel 4 also when removing the same from the mixing vessel receptacle 2 , for which purpose, more preferably, the agitator is connected in the assignment position via a non-rotatable plug-in coupling with the electric motor.

The bottom of the mixing vessel 4 is preferably heatable for heating one in the mixing vessel 4 located Garguts. Preferably, an electric resistance heater is used, which is in the bottom of the mixing vessel 4 is integrated.

The stirring vessel 4 is preferably pot-shaped with a substantially circular cross-section, with a pot opening, ie, upwardly, conically widening cross-section. The pot wall is preferably made of a metal material.

Next, the stirring vessel 4 a preferably vertically oriented handle 5 on, for example, the socket side and the edge of the pot on the mixing vessel 4 is fixed.

The stirring vessel 4 becomes the household appliance 1 Preferably assigned such that the handle 5 Freestanding between the appliance body jaws, the control panel 3 facing, wherein the base region of the mixing vessel 4 themselves on an integral floor of the household appliance 1 in the field of recording 2 supported, this under coupling of agitator drive and agitator and preferably electrical contacting the rührgefäßbodenseitigen heating.

On the mixing vessel 4 is a tube lid 6 be placed, which in the operation of the household appliance 1 , further in particular during operation of the agitator and / or the bottom-side resistance heating, is locked in an attached position, more preferably on the housing of the household appliance 1 ,

The electric supply of the electric motor and the further preferred rührgefäßbodenseitig provided heating and moreover also the electrical control of the entire household appliance 1 is via a power cord 7 reached.

In the control panel 3 is initially preferred a display 8th intended. More preferably, the control panel carries 3 one or more mechanical switches 9 , Knobs or buttons 10 for setting different manipulated variables, such as the Speed of the agitator, the temperature of the heater or a time selection, for the operation of the household appliance 1 ,

The over the switch 9 or the keys 8th To be set manipulated variables or functions to be called are preferred in the display 8th displayable.

In the household appliance 1 is more preferably a recipe database deposited. This includes, preferably categorized, a plurality of recipes for preparation in the household appliance 1 , Associated with each recipe are preferably the parameters or manipulated variables with respect to rotational speed of the agitator, temperature of the resistance heating and time duration. These manipulated variables are preferably automatically activated by the household appliance when the recipe sequence is activated 1 set or given to the user for confirmation.

The household appliance 1 is, preferably in addition and in parallel with an operation via an acoustic signal, manually operated in the usual way, in particular by actuation of switch 9 and buttons 10 ,

The household appliance is preferred 1 initially unlocked for operation, more preferably alone by one or more authorized persons.

The credential for unlocking the home appliance 1 and to activate the operating functions of the household appliance 1 is preferably achieved by a voice control in conjunction with a direction detection, for example, a viewing direction detection. For this purpose, the household appliance 1 a voice recognition device (not shown in the figure), which is formed, speech signals of a user 13 with known control commands for the operation of the household appliance 1 to compare. To activate the speech recognition device, the household appliance 1 an activation device with an optical detection device. The optical detection device has at least one optical sensor 12 on. Depending on by means of the optical sensor 12 information detected, the speech recognition device is activated.

The household appliance 1 more preferably comprises speech recognition software. Next is especially in the area of the control panel 3 in cooperation with the speech recognition software a sound transducer 11 arranged in the form of a microphone. The microphone as well as the optical sensor 12 , here for example in the form of an electronic camera, is in the control panel 3 potentially in the direction of the user 13 of the household appliance 1 directed. The optical sensor 12 , here for example in the form of a camera, serves in particular for the acquisition of evaluable images in connection with a viewing direction recognition.

In speech recognition, the spoken word, in particular the command word or the resulting sound pressure, is preferably converted into electrical signals and processed and analyzed by a digital signal processor. After continuously analyzing the received words and comparing them to a predefined word list within a command database, the signal processor returns the word with the highest probability that matches the spoken word. In a further step, a microcontroller analyzes the textual word and translates it into a machine command or into a recipe or converts it into such a way that a recipe is retrieved from the recipe database and at least displayed 8th is shown.

In a preferred embodiment, the transmission of the machine command to the recipe database means that the parameters associated with the called recipe or recipe section, such as speed, temperature and time, are automatically preset.

In order to avoid misinterpretations of the speech recognition, in particular by environmental influences, such as radio, TV or human conversation, is the voice signal control of the household appliance 1 coupled with a sight line detection. This is the camera 12 and an intended evaluation or analysis software used.

Is a user 13 in a defined image section and at a defined distance, the recorded image is examined and, for example, an image of at least one eye 14 of the user 13 extracted. Alternatively, the orientation of the entire body of the user can be detected and used for the evaluation, or even only parts of the body such. As the head or the eye, in particular the pupil.

According to the analysis on the software side, it is determined that the user's line of vision r 13 towards the home appliance 1 points, is determined by a communication request of the user 13 which triggers the triggering of the machine command associated with the voice command.

Voice commands, also known to the system voice commands, without eye contact with the household appliance 1 are not preferred a triggering of a corresponding machine command.

Also, using the in the control panel 3 provided camera 12 In addition to the viewing direction detection, a picture is continuously recorded for facial recognition.

The detection for preferably non-contact control of the household appliance 1 - Which preferred in addition to the usual manual control of the household appliance 1 is possible - requires in a preferred embodiment, first turning on the household appliance 1 , in particular the activation of the same, for example via a main switch. Alternatively, the activation of the household appliance can be achieved by a specific voice command, preferably in conjunction with the viewing direction recognition. This is the household appliance 1 preferably only activatable in total by detecting a predetermined signal word with preferably simultaneously detected correct viewing direction r of the eye 14 of the user 13 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household appliance

2

Mixing vessel Recording

3

Control panel

4

mixing vessel

5

handle

6

vessel cover

7

Power cord

8th

display

9

switch

10

button

11

transducer

12

sensor

13

user

14

eye

r

 line of sight

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102010060650 A1 [0003, 0042]
• DE 10210442 A1 [0042]

Claims (10)

Electrically operated household appliance ( 1 ), in particular food processor, - with a speech recognition device, which is formed, speech signals of a user ( 13 ) with known control commands for operating the household appliance ( 1 ), and - with an activation device for activating the speech recognition device, characterized in that the activation device has an optical detection device, wherein the activation device is set up to activate the speech recognition device in dependence on information detected by the optical detection device. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical detection device at least one optical sensor ( 12 ) for the detection of optical signals, which on the household appliance ( 1 ) is arranged substantially in the direction of a user ( 13 ) is aligned. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical detection device has an evaluation unit, which is set up by the optical sensor ( 12 ) to compare temporally successively detected signals with each other. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the signals contain information about an orientation of the body of the user ( 13 ), in particular a head position or pupil position of the user ( 13 ), relative to the household appliance ( 1 ) exhibit. Household appliance ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical detection device comprises a 3D sensor ( 12 ) having. Method for operating a household appliance ( 1 ), in particular a food processor, - wherein speech signals of a user ( 13 ) detected by means of a speech recognition device and with known control commands for operating the household appliance ( 1 ), wherein the speech recognition device is activated as a function of an activation event, characterized in that the speech recognition device in dependence on detected by means of a detection device optical signals in the surrounding area of the household appliance ( 1 ) is activated. Method according to claim 6, characterized by the method steps: Detection of at least one optical signal, Comparing the detected signal with predefined reference signals, - Activation of the speech recognition device, if a detected signal corresponds to a predefined reference signal. A method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that temporally successive signals are detected. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that a predefined reference signal is a signal detected earlier in time. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that an orientation of the body of a user ( 13 ), in particular a head position or pupil orientation of the user ( 13 ), relative to the household appliance ( 1 ) is detected.

Images